Improvement in artificial legs



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

JOSHUA MONROE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN ARTIFICIAL LEGS.

Specitieation forming part of Letters Patent No. 41,644, dated October 11, 1864.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, J OsHUA MONROE, of the city, county, and State Ot' New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Artificial Limbs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being 'had to the accompanying drawings, makiga part ot' this specification, in which- Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section Of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. l

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invent-ion consists in the employment or use of rawhide for the manufacture of artiti` cial limbs, iu such a manner that a light, strong, and durable limb can be produced, which can be readily lengthened Or shortened to suit patients ot' dii'erent stature, and which can be fastened to a stump with ease and facility.

A represents the leg, the several parts ot which are made of rawhide. The hide is soaked in water until it becomes soft. It is then bent over a suitable mold, and the ends are fastened together by means Ot' woodenmoved in pieces. A limb made of rawhide has incalculable advantages. Itis lighter than any limb heretofore mad e, it is stron g, durable, and elastic, and it can easily be made long enough for the largest person and cut Oil to suit patients Ot' ditferent stature, so that when a patient comes he can be suited in a few hours.

The rawhide can be easily brought in the form shown in the drawings, so that the two parts B C of the leg work one over the other like a natural knee-joint, and that all the internal mechanism can be readily fastened to blocks of wood inserted in the tubes and fastened by means of wooden pegs Or screws.

A single tendon, c, extends from the thigh of the artificial leg down to a socket, d, which is secured in the solco, and which can belengthened or shortened by means of two nuts, f, so that the tension of the tendon can be regulated at pleasure.

The toe-piece g is attached tO the sole by means Of a hinge Or hinges, h, and it tits into the inside Of the foot instead Of being eut oit' to make room for a piece Ot' leather or indiarubber, as usual.

The auklejoint is intended to be strengthened by means Ot' a block of wood rising from the sole.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

'lhe employment Or use of rawhide in the manufacture ot artitieial limbs, substantially in the manner herein specified.

JOSHUA MONROE.

Witnesses:

J. W. Goonies, GEO. W. REED. 

